Gluten & Dairy Free Bars Review

Today I'm going to do a post about my favorite and NOT so favorite bars!

I really have been getting into the brand NuGo Nutrition.  They have great bars.  My two favorites are: Mint Chocolate and Carrot Cake...all simply delicious and pretty healthy!

I also really like Lara bars as their ingredients are very simple and overall delicious.  Try the Cashew cookie and Cherry Pie!

I just tried an Original Superfood Crisp Bar from Greens Plus and will never eat it again...it contains Nova Scotia Dulse which is what gives it a very fishy taste.  I did not notice that was in the ingredients...it has very impressive ingredients but the taste is what matters when you eat something so this is definitely off my list. 

That's my review for now...wait for the next one and Happy Holidays everyone!

Top 5 Healthy Snacks

I'm going to list my TOP 5 Healthy Snacks and how you can get a hold of them! 

1.  Mini-Pops- This is my favorite alternative to POPCORN...and believe me I was addicted to movie theater popcorn as a child.  This really does taste like popcorn and it doesn't get stuck in your teeth (not as much as popcorn) and its smaller so its more fun to eat!  Plus there is absolutely no corn in this!  My two favorite flavors are the Atomic Salt and Bitty Butter.  Both completely dairy and gluten free!  http://www.myminipops.com/

2.  Mulberries & Goji Berries- My favorite brand is Navita Naturals and both these are superfoods...with tons of antioxidants!  I love putting Mulberries in my oatmeal sometimes and Goji berries are great in brownies!  http://navitasnaturals.com/

3.  Chia Pudding made with Chia Seeds & Rice Milk w/Cacao Nibs!  This is just one of my favorite recipes but its so fulfilling and comforting that I had to share it!  I mix a little cinnamon, vanilla, and coconut sugar and its soooooooooooooooooooooo good!

4.  Izzi B's French Toast Cupcakes- Ok these aren't just a snack to me...they're an addiction!  Once I found the brand at Gfree I had to have more!  They are gluten and dairy free and stay fresh in the freezer for awhile!  http://ibcakes.com/

5.  Plentils by Enjoy Life...in Garlic Parmesan- These taste just like cheetos to me and I haven't had that in over 10 years!  They are made from Lentils and do not contain any sugar!  They are also free of all 8 common Allergens (yes that includes Soy Free, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free).
 http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/plentils/

The USEFULNESS of HERBS

The Usefulness of Herbs:

Herbs & Spices	Culinary Use	Medicinal Use
Basil	Pesto, tomatoes sauces, tomato salads	Antibacterial, antispasmodic, vitamins, minerals, and ANTICANCER
Bay Leaf	Soups, stock, casseroles, sauces	Antibacterial, antispasmodic, essential oil, tannins, bitter principles, herbicide (place by books and in corners to repel silverfish)
Cardamom	Cakes, cookies, curries	Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, essential oil, mucilage, improving circulation
Cayenne	Chilis, sauces, soups, instead of black pepper	Anti-inflammatory, improving circulation
Cinnamon	Hot drinks, baked items, cooked fruit	Anti-spasmodic, digestive aid, lowers blood pressure, essential oil for aromatherapy
Cloves	Ham or pork dishes, hot drinks, baked items, combines will with cinnamon and nutmeg	Topical analgesic, anti-viral, expectorant, essential oil, digestive aid
Coriander	Leaves called cilantro-salads, garnish, chili, salsa.  Seeds called coriander-pickling spice, curries, soups, meat dishes	Anti-spasmodic, tannins, vitamins, essential oil, digestive aid
Cumin	Soups, sauces, curries, chili
Dill	Pickling spice, vinegars, soup, cheese dishes, fish	Anti-spasmodic, mucilage, tannins, essential oils, vitamins and minerals, aids in digestion, and ANTICANCER
Fennel	Combined with other herbs or on its own as a rub for meat, herbal tea, breads, bulb can be used as vegetable in stir fries	Anti-spasmodic, diuretic, carminative, essential oil, vitamins and minerals, digestive aid.  Chewed after the meal neutralizes stomach acid, sweetness the breath and helps digest fatty food.
Garlic	Raw cloves baked and eaten or rubbed on bread for garlic bread, stir fries, salad dressings, sauces, soups, rubbed over meats.	Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-microbial, vitamins and minerals, essential oil, decreases blood clotting, ANTICANCER, and immune boosting
Ginger Mint	Dried product-baked goods, stir fries, sauces. Fresh chopped root– stir fries, sauces, candied _______________________________________ Cucumber Israeli Salads, Teas, Middle Eastern Cuisine, Lamb, and in Duck	Anti-spasmodic, vitamins and minerals, digestive aid, improving circulation, morning sickness, and ANTICANCER ______________________________________ Anticancer and digestive aid (Essential oil is a MUST HAVE), Anti-spasmodic, analgesic, carminative, expectorant
Marjoram	Any meat or vegetarian dish, cheese balls, herb butters, combined with other herbs in mix for sauces.	Anti-spasmodic, sedative, digestive aid, vitamins and minerals, bitter principles, essential oil, tannins
Nutmeg	Meat and vegetarian dishes, curries, eggnog, hot drinks, baked goods.
Oregano	Meat and vegetarian dishes, vegetables stir fries, soups, sauces-especially tomato based.	Anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, sedative, astringent, expectorant, digestive aid, immune boosting, essential oil
Paprika	Meat stews, cheese or egg dishes, salad dressing, pesto sauces.  Good for adding colour to grain dishes.	High in Vitamin C and Anti-bacterial
Rosemary	Meat dishes, herb butters, combined with other herbs in salad dressings, potatoes	Anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial, analgesic, digestive aid, circulation, essential oils, tannins, saponin, and ANTICANCER
Sage	Meat dishes, sauces, soups, cheese dishes, grains.	Anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, diuretic, estrogenic compounds, bitter principles, essential oils, tannins,
Savory	Fish and meat dishes, vegetarian stews and casseroles, vegetable stir fries, grains, herb breads.	Anti-spasmodic, carminative, astringent, digestive aid, expectorant, tannins, mucilage, essential oils
Tarragon	Meat and fish dishes, omelets, herb butters, stir fries, grains, herb breads	Bitter principles, tannins, essential oils, liver tonic, cleansing, abortifacient
Thyme	Pasta sauces, meat and vegetarian dishes, cheese dishes, herb breads	Antiseptic, anti-microbial, expectorant, uterine stimulant, tannins, bitter principles, essential oils, saponins, MAINTAINS COGNITIVE Functions, and ANTICANCER

Manifesting what you WANT

I just saw this great article and had to share it with everyone: 
A great tip for manifesting is this… Instead of walking around all day in a state of wanting. Wanting more money, wanting more love, wanting more stuff, wanting more peace of mind  - STOP - wanting can’t get you there.
Sit down for 20 minutes and instead of thinking about all the things you WANT, put yourself into a trance and visualize already possessing the things that you want. If you want more money, think and FEEL what it would be like to already have that money. If you want more love, FEEL what it would be like to already have the love that you are looking for. If you want greater peace of mind, FEEL what it would feel like if you already had peace of mind.
Do this for 20 minutes in the morning before you start your day. You are actually programming your mind and your nervous system to be in a state of being what you seek, instead of wanting what you seek.
We live in a literal Uni-verse. If you want and want and want, you will be given more and more and more wanting. But if you take a step back and FEEL what it’s like to already have what you want, you take yourself OUT of wanting and program your body to already be it. If you do this and believe you are worthy of receiving your desire, the most miraculous things will begin showing up in your life.
Remove the limiting beliefs that say you aren’t worthy, that you don’t deserve it and that it has to be hard. Know that as you are right now, you are worthy of all this great stuff. Then program yourself, program your mind, program your nervous system to be in a state of being what you seek instead of wanting what you seek.
The magic will unfold.

Working on my 1st Book

Hey everyone!!!
I'm currently working on my very first book!  My book is going to be something very simple but helpful for the "normal" person that wants to get healthier!  I'm currently looking for people's definitions of processed foods and what they mean to you!  If you'd like to share your definitions please feel free to do so (If I use yours in my book you will be acknowledged in the book)  Also I'm looking for recipes using Whole Grain Alternatives and Sugar Alternatives (Coconut Sugar, Maple Sugar, Agave, Date Sugar, etc) 
If anyone knows a publisher and can connect me please let me know! 


Currently I'm also working on my Opt-in Video if anyone knows someone that has experience in doing professional videos or how to add one to an IIN website please comment below or get in touch w/me! 

Intention for the New Year

Since Intentions are very important....I wanted to state my biggest intention for the new year...http://kripalu.org/study_with_us/1385/ 
I want to start studying Ayurveda and this sounds amazing!  I want to make this my intention...if this doesn't happen this year I definitely want to do it next year! 

What's your intention? 

10 ways to JUMPSTART your DAY!

10. Do some MEDITATION

When you take a few minutes to breathe, close your eyes, and repeat a mantra you really start to feel better!  There are many guided Meditations out there that will really empower you and when you are empowered YOU ARE ready to be focused and have a fabulous day! 

9.  Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier

I know, I know… 15 minutes earlier you ask?   Let me explain. Take this extra time to slowly wake up. So many of us rush out of bed and throw ourselves into a hectic morning schedule.  When you rush your whole day rushes by...you never take a moment to fully enjoy yourself and you take too much for granted!  Take a few deep breaths.

8. Listen to your fave song

The best way to get yourself out of a rut is to listen to your favorite song.  When you listen to a song you enjoy, your body produces chemicals to boost your mood.  A little dancing never hurt anyone…

 7. Drink a hot cup of lemon water w/a little bit of Cayenne Pepper
This little tip is SO unbelievably great for your immune system. On their own, lemons are very acidic, but they have an alkalizing effect on the body. Why is this important? Cancer cells cannot grow in an alkaline environment. Go back and read that last sentence again. SO important. Lemon water is also a natural diuretic so it helps detox your body and keep off the bloat.  If you can tolerate it try adding Cayenne pepper. 
6. Use an Ionic ToothBrush and Tongue Scraper
Most of the bacteria in your mouth actually resides on your tongue and gums, so make sure to clean your tongue (and floss!). Also most toothbrushes don't actually get rid of all of your plaque like an Ionic Toothbrush, these are the most recommended and can stop tooth decay, cancers, and more. Now say HELLO to a healthy mouth.
5. Be grateful
Start your day off in a grateful mindset. This will keep you in a positive mood for the entire day!  This will especially help when stress starts creeping in throughout the day, you can revert back to the list of things you are grateful for.
4. Prepare PREPARE
Always prepare the night or day before!  When I used to go to school I would always lay out my clothes the night before so I wouldn't be so stressed in the morning running to pick out clothes!   By making decisions the night before such as what you’ll wear, what you’ll eat for breakfast, and more... you can help eliminate added stress in the morning. Lay out your clothes, if you have kids lay out their clothes too, pack lunches, do dishes and make sure you are ready for the next day. This is probably my favorite bit of advice! 
3. Exercise really is what you make it
By exercising in the morning you jump start your metabolism and as a result, burn more calories throughout the day. It’ll boost your energy levels and get those endorphins pumping. Plus, if you exercise in the morning, you can’t make up excuses for not doing it later in the day.
2. Take a high quality Melatonin Supplement-
Melatonin is a natural hormone which helps to control your sleep and wake cycles. By adding a Melatonin supplement to your diet, you will better control your sleep patterns – fall asleep faster and wake with a clear and rested mind. Melatonin decreases as you age so it’s super important to add a supplement as this occurs. Lack of sleep can lead to increased stress and excessive stress can negatively affect your sleep. It’s a never ending cycle!
1. Eat a low-glycemic breakfast
As I’m sure you have all heard before, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!   If you skip breakfast, you’re essentially telling your body to conserve energy – your metabolism will slow down and you’ll have less energy throughout the day. It’s also important to start choosing low-glycemic options in order to control your blood sugar. High-glycemic foods cause your blood sugar to sky-rocket and release a fat-storage hormone called Insulin. This creates the ‘sugar high’ and the ‘crash’ people so often experience after eating their meals.  Some of my favorite low-glycemic breakfast ideas are Oatmeal w/bananas and coconut sugar or Granola, fruit, and Yogurt! 

Try incorporating a few of these, or better yet all of them, into your morning routine.  I can guarantee you will start noticing some improvements.